A History of the New Market
The New Market was a large open air market along North 16th Street. Continue reading A History of the New Market
Category: Near North Side
A Biography of North Omaha’s Eugene Skinner
Dr. Eugene Skinner was Omaha Public Schools’ first Black principal. This is his story. Continue reading A Biography of North Omaha’s Eugene Skinner
A History of Ak-Sar-Ben in North Omaha
Examining the rise and fall of North Omaha requires a long and complicated journey through politics, culture, economics and more. One of the important early anchors of the community demonstrated the ability of one organization to steer things astray. Opening … Continue reading A History of Ak-Sar-Ben in North Omaha
A History of North Omaha’s St. Benedict the Moor Catholic Parish
North Omaha’s Saint Benedict Catholic Church has been a bastion of hope for the Near North Side for almost a century. Here’s their story. Continue reading A History of North Omaha’s St. Benedict the Moor Catholic Parish
A History of the North Omaha Gene Eppley Boys Club
The North Omaha Gene Eppley Boys’ Club was the cradle of youth engagement for a generation of young men. This is a history of the facility. Continue reading A History of the North Omaha Gene Eppley Boys Club
The Recent History of 24th and Lake
This is a modern history of North 24th and Lake Streets in North Omaha. Several buildings and initiatives are detailed. Continue reading The Recent History of 24th and Lake
A History of the Colored Old Folks Home in North Omaha
North Omaha’s Martha T. Smith Home for the Aged opened in 1913 as the Colored Old Folks Home. This is the history… Continue reading A History of the Colored Old Folks Home in North Omaha
History of Zion Baptist Church in North Omaha
A leader among the bedrock institutions of North Omaha is Zion Baptist Church. One of the oldest congregations in Omaha, it was founded in 1884 and became the largest Black church in Omaha by 1900. It’s landmark building at 2215 Grant Street was designed by North Omaha native “Cap” Clarence Wigington, and its mission is still distinctly relevant more than 125 years after it was founded. Continue reading History of Zion Baptist Church in North Omaha
A History of North Omaha’s Burkenroad House aka Broadview Hotel aka Trimble Castle
The home at 2060 Florence Boulevard has a reputation as a mansion for the social elite; an apartment house; a brothel, a hotel and as apartments again. Here is a history of North Omaha’s Broadview Hotel. Continue reading A History of North Omaha’s Burkenroad House aka Broadview Hotel aka Trimble Castle
A History of the 26th and Lake Streetcar Shop in North Omaha
Imagine a time when riding a streetcar was interesting, respected and almost a little glamorous. On the dusty, granite-covered streets of Omaha, that time was during the 1870s and 1880s. That new technology needed fanciful buildings to go along with the times, and the streetcar barn at 2606 North 26th Street in North Omaha was one of those buildings. Continue reading A History of the 26th and Lake Streetcar Shop in North Omaha
A History of the Case of Rice and Poindexter in North Omaha
Omaha, Nebraska, was founded on white supremacy. Since then, both formal and informal forces throughout the city have worked continuously to impose, maintain and expand white supremacy throughout the city, state and nation. The stories of Mondo we Langa and Ed Poindexter are examples of what that looks like. Understood in the context of North Omaha history, it is easy to see they aren’t the only examples; however, they are among the most powerful. Continue reading A History of the Case of Rice and Poindexter in North Omaha
A History of the Intersection North 20th and Lake Streets
This is a history of the intersection North 20th and Lake Streets in North Omaha, Nebraska. Continue reading A History of the Intersection North 20th and Lake Streets
A History of Early 20th Century Crime Bosses in North Omaha
In a time of mobland gangsters, illegal booze, dirty gambling halls and open prostitution, several African Americans rose high enough in Omaha’s criminal underworld to become the crime lords of North Omaha. Continue reading A History of Early 20th Century Crime Bosses in North Omaha
A History of the 24th and Lake Historic District in North Omaha
North Omaha is screaming full of history, and the new 24th and Lake Historic District is a tremendous example of how that’s so. After its first developments in the 1870s, this intersection evolved to become a hotbed of the African American community; as well as the heart of the Jewish community; a farm supply area; and much, much more. In 2016, 38 buildings were included in a new listing on the National Register of Historic Places. This article is an introduction to the powerful, poignant past of a large jewel in North Omaha’s historical crown. Continue reading A History of the 24th and Lake Historic District in North Omaha
A History of the 1913 Easter Sunday Tornado in North Omaha
On Easter Day 1913, an F4 tornado that was a quarter mile wide hit North Omaha, killing at least 94 people. As of May 2016, is the deadliest Nebraska tornado of all time, and the 13th deadliest-ever tornado in the United States. It is one of Omaha’s most popular collective memories, and yet, few people seem to know about it. Here is a history of the 1913 Easter Sunday Tornado in North Omaha. Continue reading A History of the 1913 Easter Sunday Tornado in North Omaha
A History of the North Omaha Tidy House Factory
Chemical innovation, middle class industrial jobs, company sell-outs and corporate espionage mark the history of one building on North 16th Street. This is a history of the former North Omaha Tidy House factory. Continue reading A History of the North Omaha Tidy House Factory
A History of the Governor Alvin Saunders Estate in North Omaha
The fine Second Italianate Renaissance Style home built by Nebraska Territory governor Alvin Saunders was located in North Omaha at 1510 Sherman Avenue / 2008 North 16th Street. Learn more about it in this article. Continue reading A History of the Governor Alvin Saunders Estate in North Omaha
The History of An Unsolved Murder in North Omaha
Adam’s note: I’m a little hesitant to share this story, but I’m going to. Bad things happen in communities, and this story is part of North Omaha’s history. I’ve removed family names out of respect for the families involved. In … Continue reading The History of An Unsolved Murder in North Omaha
A History of the Ernie Chambers Court aka Strehlow Terrace in North Omaha
This is a history of the Ernie Chambers Court aka Strehlow Terrace Apartments in North Omaha, Nebraska. Continue reading A History of the Ernie Chambers Court aka Strehlow Terrace in North Omaha
A History of the Bailey Residence in North Omaha
Built: 1875 estimated Address: 1504 North 19th Street Architecture: Eastlake Style Demolished: 1900 estimated When Omaha was first starting up in the 1850s and 1860s, it was built with wood. Wood-frame stores, hotels, homes and boarding houses were all over. … Continue reading A History of the Bailey Residence in North Omaha
A History of St. Clare’s Monastery in North Omaha
This is a history of one of North Omaha’s hidden holy grounds built as St. Clare’s Monastery. Continue reading A History of St. Clare’s Monastery in North Omaha
A History of North Omaha’s Kellom Pool
The Near North Side neighborhood was packed with people for more than a century. People need places to hang out and cool off in Omaha’s hot summers, and in the late 1940s the City of Omaha Parks Department decided to … Continue reading A History of North Omaha’s Kellom Pool
A History of Black Hotels in Omaha
This is a history of Black-owned and operated hotels for African American customers in Omaha, Nebraska by Adam Fletcher Sasse for NorthOmahaHistory.com. Continue reading A History of Black Hotels in Omaha
A History of North Omaha’s Storz Brewery
Before Gottlieb Storz, a few other entrepreneurs tried their hand at brewing beer in North Omaha. Afterwards though, Storz dominated. For more than 75 years, his family ran Omaha’s beer industry, and even though the brewery closed in the 1970s, … Continue reading A History of North Omaha’s Storz Brewery
History of the Omaha Colored Commercial Club
Omaha’s Colored Commercial Club was an business referral, employment agency, and community building org for almost a decade. This is it’s history… Continue reading History of the Omaha Colored Commercial Club
A History of the A.J. Poppleton Mansion in North Omaha
This is the story of A. J. Poppleton’s North Omaha estate called Elizabeth Place. Continue reading A History of the A.J. Poppleton Mansion in North Omaha
A History of the Redick Mansion in North Omaha
The most famous mansion built in North Omaha is probably the Mayne Mansion, also known as the Redick Mansion. Clifton E. Mayne was a pioneer real estate investor and salesman in the city. In the 1870s, a farmer built a little house along Saunders Street leading north out of Omaha. He sold ten acres and his little farmhouse to Mayne in 1885. Continue reading A History of the Redick Mansion in North Omaha
A History of the Near North Side Neighborhood in North Omaha
As far as I’m concerned, the history of Omaha’s Near North Side neighborhood is the richest in all of Omaha. It has been home to working class families, poor people, and the wealthy; northern Europeans, African Americans, and eastern Europeans; Lutherans and Catholics, Jews and Black Muslims; slums, family homes, and mansions; looked like a pioneer town, had country gentleman farms, been a suburb, and had slums; professional offices, warehouses, manufacturing plants, local storefronts, printing presses, training centers, supermarkets and pop-up shops; giant churches and synagogues, and tiny storefront temples and more. So much has happened here, and clearly its story is still being written… Continue reading A History of the Near North Side Neighborhood in North Omaha
A History of North Omaha’s Jewish Community
The Jewish people in North Omaha were tied together with the establishment and growth of the community for a century… Continue reading A History of North Omaha’s Jewish Community
A History of Hospitals in North Omaha
Today, North Omaha is a medical desert. With more than 40,000 residents in its boundaries, there is a stark absence of medical service providers of all kinds. Making it worse, the community is greatly underinsured. That leaves people who have no insurance and no money needing to travel to other parts of the city to get care. However, that hasn’t always been the case. There have been more than ten hospitals in North Omaha throughout its 150+ year history. Continue reading A History of Hospitals in North Omaha
A History of Theatres and Movie Theaters in North Omaha
While it has absolutely no active movie theaters today, the North Omaha community has been home to at least 20 (!) movie theaters over the last century. This is a short history of those theaters. Its really incomplete, as information has been hard for me to find. Continue reading A History of Theatres and Movie Theaters in North Omaha
History of Social Clubs and Social Halls in North Omaha
This is a history of the social clubs in North Omaha from the 1860s through present times. Continue reading History of Social Clubs and Social Halls in North Omaha
A History of the June 1969 Riot in North Omaha
While African Americans have known about police racism for more than a century, white people across the US are beginning to acknowledge the effects of legalized harassment, white privilege, systematic discrimination, the school-to-prison pipeline and other forms of white supremacy that constantly plunder communities and the entire nation of its potential, power and purpose. With a vibrant, vital, and obvious story, Vivian Strong must be remembered today. Continue reading A History of the June 1969 Riot in North Omaha
A History of the Logan Fontenelle Housing Projects
Once upon a time, there was a massive public housing project located at the intersection of North 24th and Paul Streets in the Near North Side neighborhood. Originally named the “Northside Village Public Housing Project,” the name was officially changed in honor of the famous Omaha tribe leader Logan Fontenelle. Continue reading A History of the Logan Fontenelle Housing Projects
A History of Redlining in Omaha
The history of North Omaha includes redlining starting during the 1920s, and being made illegal in the 1960s. This article explores that history, including the context in which it happened and some of the outcomes. Continue reading A History of Redlining in Omaha
The Oldest House in North Omaha
With a history extending to the 1840s, North Omaha is bound to have the oldest houses in Omaha today. Learn more about them here… Continue reading The Oldest House in North Omaha
A History of Streetcars in North Omaha
This is a history of streetcars in North Omaha, Nebraska. Continue reading A History of Streetcars in North Omaha
A History of North Omaha’s Wirt Street
Hidden deep in the heart of North Omaha is a jewel of a street, filled with abundant American foursquare houses, long yards and hints of its glory 100 years ago. This section of Wirt street, from north 16th to north 24th streets, was once home to some of the predominant names in the beautiful Kountze Place development. It was also home to more than simple Foursquare style homes. In addition to the stout middle class houses, there were some exquisite examples of high style in Omaha history. This article highlights those beauties, which suggest a future for the Wirt Street historic district. Continue reading A History of North Omaha’s Wirt Street
A History of North Omaha, Part 2: 1885-1945
Between 1870 and the 1950s, A LOT happened in North Omaha. This is a summary of the people, events, organizations and more that made history… Continue reading A History of North Omaha, Part 2: 1885-1945
A Biography of North Omaha’s ‘Cap’ Clarence Wigington by Linda Williams
This is a guest post by Linda Williams, an architecture student in Omaha. Continue reading A Biography of North Omaha’s ‘Cap’ Clarence Wigington by Linda Williams
A Street of Dreams
In 1994, NET helped reveal some of this history through a powerful documentary called “A Street of Dreams.” This is that documentary. Continue reading A Street of Dreams
A Time for Burning
One of the most powerful documentaries to ever be made in Omaha is called A Time For Burning. Nominated for an Academy Award for documentary filmmaking in 1966, the film highlights then-barber/future Nebraska legislator Ernie Chambers. A graduate of the Creighton University Law School, he was elected Senator to the Nebraska Legislature in 1970. By 2005 he had become the longest-serving state Senator in the history of Nebraska. This is a powerful clip from the film featuring Chambers talking with the minister of a Lutheran church who was trying to integrate his congregation. Learn more about the film. You Might … Continue reading A Time for Burning
A History of the Black Association for Nationalism Through Unity (BANTU) in Omaha
One of the places that sparks my imagination greatly is when my varying interests overlap, and that’s why today’s post on BANTU particularly excites me. From the pioneering Civil Rights efforts of Dr. Matthew Ricketts In the 1910s and 1920s, … Continue reading A History of the Black Association for Nationalism Through Unity (BANTU) in Omaha
1913 Easter Tornado in North Omaha Video History
The following video is a collection of pictures from the 1913 Easter Sunday tornado. This was a massive F5 tornado that ripped across the entire city. However, the vast majority of damage was done to North Omaha, and in particular … Continue reading 1913 Easter Tornado in North Omaha Video History
A History of 24th Street in North Omaha
North 24th Street in North Omaha, Nebraska, used to be a regular street of dreams. Home to immigrants and entrepreneurs, it hosted generations of families that made it. Then in the 1960s, several riots struck at the heart of the community. It hasn’t recovered in the 50 years since. Continue reading A History of 24th Street in North Omaha
A History of Schools in North Omaha
If walls could talk, North Omaha’s schools would be much noisier, much more colorful, and much more complicated than anyone wants to hear. For more than 150 years, schools throughout the community have served students of all ages. With a deep history including segregation and school violence, its can be hard to remember all the positive people and events that emerged in the community’s schools. Following is my ever-growing history of the old schools in North Omaha. Continue reading A History of Schools in North Omaha
A History of the North Omaha Riots
Because of when the riots happened and what they did, there are scars on North O that that haven’t healed almost 50 years later. Here’s a history of what happened. Continue reading A History of the North Omaha Riots
A Video History of the Dreamland Ballroom in North Omaha
Here is a video by Waymaker Media with a short history of the Dreamland Ballroom on North 24th Street in North Omaha. Make sure you like the video and leave comments on YouTube! You Might Like… A History of the Jewell Building and Dreamland Ballroom A History of the 24th and Lake Historic District A History of the Carnation Ballroom in North Omaha A Short History of The Stage II Lounge A History of North Omaha’s Elks Hall and Iroquois Lodge 92 BONUS PICS! Continue reading A Video History of the Dreamland Ballroom in North Omaha
History of 16th Street in North Omaha
Long before becoming a decrepit pipeline for the neglect of old North Omaha, North 16th Street had a history almost as long as the city itself. Continue reading History of 16th Street in North Omaha
Historical Tour of North Omaha
Following is a list of places I would visit on a long, winding North Omaha history tour. If you have anything you would like me to write about, add, or otherwise know, please share here. I LOVE NORTH O! These are listed by neighborhood, starting at Dodge Street and heading northwards. Note that all links go to articles I created, either on Wikipedia or on this blog. Continue reading Historical Tour of North Omaha